Hello LEDcandle.
I am a newbie Flashaholic and been buying a ton of single cell led's. But my first love is a good pocket knife.
I know how much information overload you are on, with all the blade types, metal, lock, etc. Just did the same thing with all the flashlights.
I satrted with one knife now have 42. Started cheap, got expensive ones next, then customs. Now buy what I like.
What you get with a better steel is edge retention and strength. Now with some of the mass produced knives you can step up to S30v. Good news is you will not have to sharpen very often. Bad news is it will be tougher to sharpen.
I have been a little of a snob recently and only buying expensive Chris Reeve or William Henry Knives but now there is a great knife for under $100.00 by Kershaw. Kershaw has just come out with a Ken Onion knife that has G10 handles and a S30V blade. This would more then handle most projects you could though its way. By the way it is assisted opening. Not automatic but looks that way to some people so you get a good, wow, factor from people who do knot care that much about knives.
I saw you looking at a serrated blade. Buy a cheap one so you can see how you like it. I guess you will figure out that a sharp strait edge will do more then the serreated, easier to sharpen, more functional.
Enjoy your new hobbie/obsession.
Robohilic